Methods and Systems for Viewing and Editing AR/VR Computer-based Designs Allowing Impaired Vision Simulation

Abstract

A method of providing a user with a filtered image of a computer-based design, the method includes the steps of: storing, in a location accessible by a central host, master data representing the design; identifying view data corresponding to a portion of the master data representing a portion of the design to be viewed by a user; applying a filter to the view data to generate filtered view data; receiving the filtered view data at a display component of a viewer; displaying an image of the design corresponding to the filtered view data using the display component of the viewer.

1 . A method of providing a user with a filtered image of a computer-based design, the method including the steps of:
 (a) storing, in a location accessible by a central host, master data representing the design;   (b) identifying view data corresponding to a portion of the master data representing a portion of the design to be viewed by a user;   (c) applying a filter to the view data to generate filtered view data;   (d) receiving the filtered view data at a display component of a viewer;   (e) displaying an image of the design corresponding to the filtered view data using the display component of the viewer.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the central host includes a processor having a filtering module, and wherein step (c) includes the steps of:
 (i) receiving the view data at the filtering module;   (ii) applying the filter to the view data using the filtering module, to generate filtered view data, and   (iii) outputting the filtered view data from the filtering module, towards the viewer, or the display component thereof.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured to simulate conditions affecting eyesight, or varying levels of visual acuity. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying a filter takes place before the identification of view data, and wherein the filter is independent of the view data. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein step of applying a filter to the view data includes:
 applying a left-eye filter to a portion of the view data corresponding to a viewpoint of the user's left eye; and   applying a right-eye filter to a portion of the view data corresponding to a viewpoint of the user's right eye, wherein the left-eye filter is different from the right-eye filter.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further including the step of eye-tracking using an eye-tracking device, wherein the view data is based, at least in part, on eye-tracking information from the eye-tracker. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the design is a 2D design, and the viewer is in the form of a PC, a tablet, a smartphone or a laptop. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the design is a 3D design. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the user is able to move around within the 3D design, and   the view data depends on either:
 the location and the orientation of the user within the 3D design, or 
 the location and the orientation of the viewer within the 3D design. 
   
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the viewer is in the form of one of:
 a PC, 
 a tablet, 
 a smartphone, or 
 a laptop; and 
   the user is able to navigate the 3D design using controls on the viewer, thus changing the view data.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the viewer is in the form of a virtual reality viewer, wherein the display component is in the form of a screen within the virtual reality viewer. 
     
     
         17 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the view data is in the form of real-time data, and wherein the view data is in the form of a series of frames of data, each frame corresponding to a view of a region of the 3D design at a given instant. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the view data is in the form of a series of frames of data, each frame corresponding to a view of a region of the 3D design at a given instant. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein steps (b) to (e) are performed for each frame of data, to create a series of filtered images representing successive frames of the view data. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the step of applying a filter includes applying a filter to a portion of the view data representing an object within the 3D design,   an effect of the filter is dependent on the distance, within the 3D design, between the location of the user within the 3D design and the object within the 3D design.   
     
     
         23 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method of editing a computer-based design while reviewing it, including the steps of:
 (i) providing a user with an image of a computer-based design by performing the steps of:
 storing, in a location accessible by a central host, master data representing the design; 
 identifying view data corresponding to a portion of the master data representing a portion of the design to be viewed by a user; 
 applying a filter to the view data to generate filtered view data; 
 receiving the filtered view data at a display component of a viewer; 
 displaying an image of the design corresponding to the filtered view data using the display component of the viewer; 
   (ii) receiving an editing input from a user, to generate data representing an edited portion of the design;   (iii) updating the master data corresponding to the edited portion of the design.   
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein editing input is received at a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein editing input is in the form of a gesture. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein the data representing the edited portion of the design is cached before the step of updating the master data. 
     
     
         29 . A method of providing a plurality of users with a filtered image of a computer-based design, the method including the steps of:
 storing, in a location accessible by a central host, master data representing a design;   for a first viewer, performing the steps of:
 identifying view data corresponding to a portion of the master data representing a portion of the design to be viewed by a user; 
 applying a filter to the view data to generate filtered view data; 
 receiving the filtered view data at a display component of a viewer; 
 displaying an image of the design corresponding to the filtered view data using the display component of the viewer; and 
 for a second viewer, performing the steps of: 
 identifying view data corresponding to a portion of the master data representing a portion of the design to be viewed by a user; 
 applying a filter to the view data to generate filtered view data; 
 receiving the filtered view data at a display component of a viewer; 
 displaying an image of the design corresponding to the filtered view data using the display component of the viewer. 
   
     
     
         30 - 34 . (canceled)